UK Sporting Events

2014 promises to be a great year for sport here in the UK. We here at the Club have decided to put together a list of some of the biggest events to be held on our shores, so that you can plan your camping trips around events such as the Tour de France and The Ryder Cup.

Football

Football continues to grow in the country and the national team will be looking to add to that growth when they fly out to Rio de Janeiro for the World Cup in June. Before that though, England will tackle Denmark at Wembley in a friendly on 5th March, which will prove to be a final test for Roy Hodgson’s men before the World Cup starts.

Opened in 2007, the new Wembley Stadium was built after the old stadium was demolished in 2003. It is the second largest stadium in Europe with a capacity of 90,000. The stadium’s main purpose is to host England international football matches, whilst in the past it has also hosted rugby matches and even music concerts. As well hosting England international football matches, the stadium is also the venue for the FA Cup Final, FA Community Shield, League Cup Final and the Championship Play-Off Finals to name but a few.

Tours are available at Wembley Stadium with prices starting from £9. Under 5s go free and groups of 25+ people receive a 15% discount. To book your stadium tour visit www.wembleystadium.com/wembley-tours

Cycling

After successes at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics for team GB, cycling has become an increasingly popular sport with the public. Personalities like Chris Hoy, Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome have all helped raise the profile of the sport, encouraging people to take up more cycling. That success has contributed towards the historic Tour de France to begin in the UK for the first time in its history on 5th and 6th July. The first stage of the tour will start in Leeds with a sprint finish to Harrogate, covering 190km of beautiful scenery. The second stage will start in York and finish in Sheffield covering 200km. Referred to as the Grand Départ, it promises to be an exciting tour which many can’t wait for. Another cycling event whose opening stages will begin in Northern Ireland is the Giro d’Italia. Billed as the ‘Big Start’, it will last 3 days from 9th-11th May. Camping and cycling go hand in hand, so get out there and enjoy the great outdoors.

Opened in 1994, the National Cycling Centre is one of the finest and busiest velodromes in the world. The centre has hosted events such as the Commonwealth Games and the World Championships, and been the site for many world records .For cycling enthusiasts, you can ride the track (bike and helmet are provided) and test your skills or you can simply take a tour of the centre. To find out more visit www.nationalcyclingcentre.com

Cricket

Cricket is another thriving sport in the country, with both England Men and Women’s Cricket teams enjoying success. Having defeated Australia 3-0 in The Ashes in 2013, England travel Down Under to defend The Urn and record another historic series victory. This year England will welcome both Sri Lanka and India in what promises to be a great summer for cricket in England.

Lord’s, also known as the ‘The Home of Cricket’, is the home of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). It has played host to many memorable matches and was the venue for the 1999 World Cup Final contested between Australia and Pakistan. The ground also provided the backdrop for Archery at the 2012 Olympics. Opened in 1953 by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) Museum is one of the oldest sporting museums in the world. For further information about the ground and tours of the museum visit - www.lords.org

Motor Racing

The 2014 British Grand Prix will be take place on Sunday 6th July. Home drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button will be looking for a podium finish at Silverstone, en route to challenging reigning World Champion Sebastien Vettel.

Silverstone first hosted the British Grand Prix back in 1948. This historic track, which features 18 turns, was built on a Royal Air Force bomber station used in World War II. For the avid motor racing fan, you can book driving experiences and track days on the circuit. To discover more visit the Silverstone website at www.silverstone.co.uk

Golf

The UK has some stunning landscape to offer, along with some of the world’s most picturesque and challenging golf courses. The world’s best players are often over here for The Open and other key tournaments in the golfing calendar; however it will be Europe and America’s elite who take centre stage next year in Auchterarder, Scotland to challenge for the coveted Ryder Cup.

The luxurious Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire is set in an idyllic location, perfect for the remote getaway. As well as its 5-star accommodation, it is famous for its world class golf courses and will host the 40th Ryder Cup which starts on 23rd September 2014. Team Europe will be looking to make it three wins on the trot in Auchterarder, whilst the Americans will be looking to avenge defeat from two years ago in Illinois. Whilst the match day ballot has now closed, practice day tickets are still available. For further information visit www.rydercup.com

Snooker

Played in slightly different surroundings to other sports, Snooker remains a sport watched by many live and on the television. The likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Selby, Ding Junhui and Judd Trump will all be striving to become the best in the world when they meet at the World Championships in Sheffield on 19th April.

The Crucible Theatre in Sheffield is often referred to as the home of snooker, primarily because it has hosted the Snooker World Championships since 1977. With a theatre capacity of 980, the spectator is never too far away from the action. Tickets are now on sale for the World Championships. For tickets for the event and other events at the Crucible Theatre visit www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

Commonwealth Games

After the success of the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and the 2012 Olympic Games in London, the UK prepares to host another major sporting event, the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The likes of Usain Bolt, Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis-Hill will all be looking to strike gold again after a successful Olympic campaign.

Glasgow welcomes the Commonwealth to the 20th edition of the Games. The event runs from 23rd July through to 3rd August and will be spread across 14 venues. Scotland’s national football stadium, Hampden Park, will play host to the track and field events, whilst The Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre Precinct will be the largest of the 14 venues hosting 6 sports. Tickets are now on sale and to secure your ticket to the Games visit www.glasgow2014.com

Horse Racing

The UK is home to some fantastic racecourses, none more so than Aintree in Liverpool, which will once again provide the backdrop for the 2014 Grand National. Ascot, Cheltenham and Kempton are other popular racecourses which host races throughout the year, in particular Cheltenham, which hosts the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The Grand National Steeplechase, which was first run in 1839, is a race watched by millions across the world. The course is over four miles long and contains 30 fences, offering the richest prize fund in Europe, with the winner picking up a cheque just shy of £1m in 2013. You can buy tickets for the Grand National and other races direct from the Aintree website – www.aintree.co.uk

Tennis

Tennis is another thriving sport in the UK after the recent success of Andy Murray at the 2012 Olympics, US Open and Wimbledon in 2013. As well as Wimbledon, Queen’s Club in London provides players with a warm up to the main event, whilst the ATP World Tour Finals have been held at the O2 Arena in London since 2009.

The All England Club will once again take centre stage for The Wimbledon Championships, the oldest tennis tournament in the world. Andy Murray will be looking for his 3rd major after winning the US Open and Wimbledon in 2013.

Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum tour prices for the All England Club start at £12 for adults and £7 for children. Tickets for the Championships in 2014 will be processed by application form and ballot as normal. The closing date for applications was 31st December 2013. For further information about Museum visits/tours and tickets to The Championships, visit www.wimbledon.com

Image from AELTC

Participation Sports

Participation sports are a growing trend in the UK. Nearly every major city in the country hosts a marathon, whilst towns and villages are holding smaller runs to help keep people active. There is also the rise in popularity of adventure sports and assault course based events. Events like The Wolf Run, Tough Mudder and Iron Man are all events testing your endurance and stamina.